As the #ParisAgreement turns 5, here’s a thread on the future of #climateaction in the @UNFCCC.

tl;dr: The rachet is working, but more ambition is needed. Don’t lose sight of transparency. Beware those who say we don’t need Paris. And focus on implementation, not negotiations 1/

Let’s get this out of the way first: We need WAY more ambition. Japan & Korea net zero by 2050 goals are strong. China’s 2060 CO2 neutrality goal changes the conversation. But 2050 & 2060 are a long way away, and apart from EU & UK, much more near-term ambition is needed now. 2/

At the same time, let’s recognize what’s working well. The Art 4 ‘ratchet’—5 year cycle of NDCs w/ greater ambition each time—is working as intended: forcing a renewed conversation about ambition. The Paris Agreement also took a body blow from Trump and survived. 3/

It’s also important to recall that even though we are 5 years in, the effective ‘compliance period’ only starts next year. As a result, key provisions of the Paris Agreement, including cooperation via markets (Art 6) and the transparency framework (Art 13) haven’t kicked in. 4/

Most of the focus in 2021 will be on NDCs as it should be. The US should re-enter with an ambitious & credible 2030 target: ideally 50% below 2005, meeting or beating the path to net zero by 2050. And more near-term ambition and/or an earlier peaking year is needed from China. 5/

But what will be just as important in the coming year will be how countries talk about Paris. Beware those who say “we don’t need the #ParisAgreement any more” or “we have moved beyond it”: That is code for not wanting to comply with rigorous reporting requirements. 6/

Ambitious pledges are all well & good—but they don’t mean anything w/o assurance that they are being met. The transparency framework is the heart of the #ParisAgreement. The EU & UK & US as well as civil society must make that clear. We need less rhetoric and more reporting. 7/

Finally, @UNFCCC should shift from focusing on negotiations to implementation. Concrete actions & policies should be at the center of every COP. Good signs so far in this direction for @COP26 from the UK COP Presidency and the high-level champions @topnigel and @gmunozabogabir 8/

Today’s #Pariversaire crystallizes recent momentum. But much greater ambition, and a revitalized multilateralism that ramps up cooperation and includes an emphasis on transparency in monitoring and reporting, will be needed in 2021. 9/9

My take on today: https://edf.org/Z76P